A day before the Bethel Park School District begins advertising for bids to construct a costly high school, about 150 taxpayers braved the rain to protest the project at the school board meeting Thursday night.
"It's $100 million. The taxpayers should have a vote," said Jeff Becker, organizer of Save Bethel High. "One hundred-million dollars for a school with declining enrollment, in a time of economic trouble, is a very, very poor formula for success."
School directors approved plans in February 2008 for a new high school, which would replace an eight-building campus with a single building. Construction is expected to begin in the fall, on property next to the present high school buildings.
Many residents said they are angry about proposed tax increases and believe they should be able to vote whether or not to build the school.
"We all know that bricks and mortar do not make the students. It is the educators," said Bev Thurner, a resident who called the proposed building "a monstrosity."
Parent Kathleen Howley said district taxpayers should have the final say.
"Nine people on the school board should not have the right to spend the taxpayers' money the way they please," said Howley. "This should be put to a vote."
District spokeswoman Vicki Flotta said security played a part in the decision to move to a one-building school.
"We're excited about this project, and a lot of people in this community do support it," she said. "We think this is the right thing for the community -- and the right thing for the students."
Residents met at the football field and walked to the district's administration building in the rain chanting "No vote, no school!" The meeting began at 8 p.m.
Tom Tomkins, a parent involved Save Bethel High, challenged the board and administrators, asking that board members resign if there is a tax increase above 0.5 mill not related to operational costs or teacher contracts in the five years following the project's completion. He asked the superintendent, assistant superintendent and business manager to forgo pensions and benefits to help reimburse taxpayers.
Under a proposed $42.8 million budget for the 2009-10 school year, taxes would increase 0.75 mill -- someone owning a $100,000 home would pay an additional $75. School construction would cause less than $20 of the increase, said Matt Howard, assistant to the superintendent for finance and operations.
School board President Donna Cook said the board held several community meetings to seek input on the project during the four years before it voted on a final plan. She said the district is fortunate to be able to build a school without disrupting classes.
"Listening to teachers, to people who lived through past renovations, if you're able to put in the school without touching the current campus, that's the best idea," Cook said. "There are a lot of benefits for our students."
The eight-building high school campus is the only multi-building campus in the state, Cook said.
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